RADICAN’S WXW “16 Carat Gold 2016” Night 1 Report – Drew Galloway, Sabre, Callihan, insane Ospreay match, I Quit match

WXW “16 CARAT GOLD” 2016
NIGHT 1 REPORT
MARCH 11, 2016
OBERHAUSEN, GERMANY

The show began with clips of all four of the participants in the opening match making their way to the ring to generic music. The entrance is very cool with three video screens and each wrestler appeared to have their own entrance video. Alan Counihan and Jeremy Graves are the English announce team.

(a) Mike Schwarz vs. Tyler Bate vs. David Starr vs. Aaron Insane in an Alternate Four-Way match. The winner of this match gets a spot in the tournament if anyone gets hurt or is forced out of the tournament. Bate and Starr are new to wXw, but have spent the last couple of months touring with the promotion and training at the wXw school. Schwarz lifted Starr up and tossed him over the ropes to the floor to wipe out Insane and Bate with a fallaway slam. The action picked up with three men in the ring going at it. Bate managed to lift Schwarz on his back while doing an giant swing on Starr. Holy s—! Starr went wild hitting a flurry of dives on Inferno and Bate. He then knocked Schwarz off the apron before finally getting cut off by a huge lariat from inferno. Starr fired back and caught Inferno with product placement (arm trap German with a bridge) for the win.

They played generic music over Starr’s music after the match, was a bummer because the crowd was clearly excited about his win.

WINNER: David Starr at 5:15 to become the 2016 16 Carat Gold alternate.

Star rating: (***) – This was a really fun opening with some cool spots. The highlight was Starr running wild at the end hitting a ton of dives before getting the win in the end. I’ve seen a lot of Starr and this was the best he’s ever looked in the ring in terms of confidence and how he carried himself.

The opening video package aired running down the participants in the tournament. The different wrestlers were then shown cutting promos in different languages.

The opening ceremony for the tournament took place and each participant was introduced to the crowd. It appears all the entrances are clipped and edited with generic music. What a bummer.

(1) Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Big Daddy Walter in a 16 Carat Gold First Round match. The fans were jacked for the beginning of the match. These two are former tag team champions and the announcers said they are very evenly matched. Neither man could get the upper hand during the early going. Walter finally got a straightjacket choke that Sabre could not escape, despite giving it his best efforts. Sabre finally escaped, but still had his hands locked with Walter’s hands. Walter got on top of Sabre and broke his bridge while their hands were still locked, but Sabre bridged back up to break a pinfall. Holy s—! If you haven’t seen Walter, he is much bigger than Sabre.

Walter and Sabre went back and forth exchanging blows as the fans sang a song about Sabre. Walter finally ended the exchange with a huge lariat in the corner. Walter got a torture crab on Sabre. He then transitioned to a Boston crab, but Sabre got to the ropes with his mouth. Both men exchanged blows again. Walter decked Sabre with a slap, but missed a leg drop. Sabre nailed him with a running kick, but Walter got right up. Sabre hit a missile dropkick and Walter got to his feet once again. Sabre hit a series of uppercuts in the corner, but Walter ran out and surprised him with a shotgun dropkick. Holy crap! Sabre caught Walter with a guillotine choke, but Walter dumped him off. Sabre no-sold a German, but ate a lariat for a near fall. WTF? Are you kidding me?

Sabre countered a powerbomb into a guillotine choke. He then transitioned into a double arm submission, but Walter got his foot on the bottom rope. Wow! Sabre hit a penalty kick on Walter’s arm as he tried to boost himself to his feet. Both men exchanged big slaps. Walter went down and Sabre hit a PK. Sabre went for an arm bar and eventually transitioned into a triangle. Walter lifted Sabre up and drove him into the corner. Sabre held onto the arm bar using the ropes for leverage. Walter eventually freed himself. Walter caught Sabre going for a dive and hit a big gut buster. He went up top for a splash, but Sabre rolled him up and got his signature bridging pin for the win.

Post-match, Walter got right up and wiped Sabre out with a clothesline and the fans booed as he left.

WINNER: Zack Sabre Jr. at 13:05.

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a really good match with Walter being dominant most of the way until Sabre mounted a comeback. Even then, Sabre had a hard time keeping Walter down and had to go to his signature bridging pin to get the win.

(2) WXW Shotgun Champion Sasa Keel vs. Timothy Thatcher in a 16 Carat Gold First Round match. Keel’s fans were holding Keel Corner sides on the right side of the hard camera. Thatcher got nailed with a German and sold his neck after going into the corner. Sasa’s name is pronounced as Sasha. The announcers said he was on a path of redemption going into the tournament. Keel worked over Thatcher on the mat before Thatcher got up and drove him into the ropes. Thatcher got a clean break and sold his neck. The announcers said Thatcher won the Road to 16 Carat Gold League for a spot in the tournament. Keel hit a gut-wrench suplex and continued to work over Thatcher. Keel hit another gut-wrench suplex and Thatcher sold his mid-section.

Keel went for a big standing elbow drop, but Thatcher got out of the way and went right after his arm with some slams and then some knees. Thatcher went for a cross-arm breaker, but Keel rolled on top of him for a 2 count. Keel got on to of Thatcher, but Thatcher reversed and hit some big strikes. Keel tried to cover up and then caught Thatcher in a head scissors as they went back and forth on the mat. Keel suddenly fired back with a snap belly-to-belly suplex.

Keel hit some big knees to the mid-section, but Thatcher fired back with a modified single leg crab. Keel teased tapping and eventually kicked Thatcher off. Keel hit a big kick to the head and an Olympic slam for a nearfall. Thatcher and Keel began exchanging blows a short time later and Thatcher hit a short headbutt to the temple for the win. Holy crap!

WINNER: Timothy Thatcher at 8:15

Star rating: (***) – Keel seemed to be one step ahead of Thatcher for most of the match, as he had an answer to Thatcher on the ground and in the striking game most of the time. Thatcher appeared to be in big trouble and sold his neck and head well here, but managed to catch Keel with a short headbutt to the temple for the win. I loved the finish.

(3) Leva Bates vs. Toni Storm. Storm is from Australia. They exchanged falls back and forth on the mat during the early going as the announcers talked about Storm having an extended stay in Europe. They did a rolling cradle before both women broke apart and the fans applauded. The action got sloppy when Storm went for a suplex and Bates sort of just fell. Bates fired back with a nice northern lights suplex with a bridge for a 2 count. Bates got a tarantula a short time later. She then got a dragon sleeper while using the ropes for leverage. Bates then hit a big spear for a 2 count.

Bates hit a huge slap and the fans called for another one. Bates followed up with a double chop. Storm got up and clocked Bates. They went back and forth until Storm caught her with a boot off the ropes for a 2 count. Storm ate a pair of superkicks a short time later. Storm blocked a third attempt and got a rollup for a 2 count. She then suplexed Bates into the corner. Storm capped a big sequence with a fisherman buster for the win.

Both women shook hands and hugged after the match. Storm was suddenly attacked from behind by someone and the fans booed. She got on the mic and cut a promo in a language that wasn’t English. The fans booed. I’m guessing she wants a match.

WINNER: Toni Storm at 5:47. This was a fine back and forth contest to break up the tournament action on the card.

(4) WXW Tag Team Champion Ilja Dragunov vs. Mike Bailey in a 16 Carat Gold First Round match. The fans sang “Hey Bailey” at Bailey before the match began. Dragunov wiped out Bailey with a big chop during the early stages of the match. Ilja hit some big chops before sweeping Bailey’s leg and hitting a senton for a 2 count. Dragunov managed to fend off Bailey’s comeback attempts and worked a neck crank. Bailey finally decked Ilja with a big kick to the back of the head. The fans then fired up behind Bailey, who wiped out Dragunov with a pair of big kicks. They went back and forth and Bailey caught Dragunov with a big roundhouse kick in the corner that was sick! They went back and forth and Speedball got a rollup and Dragunov kicked out, but Bailey hung onto the rope and then hit a standing moonsault into a double knee strike.

The fans fired up as both men were down on the mat. Bailey went for a kick, but Dragunov hit a dragon screw. They went back and forth and Ilya hit a pair of discus clotheslines for a near fall. The fans fired up for the near fall. Bailey hit several kicks, but Dragunov fired back with a right hand. Dragunov came off the top, but Bailey nailed him with a kick. Bailey countered an electric chair and hit a reverse hurricanrana. Wow! The fans fired up and Bailey went up top. Bailey hit a double shooting star knee off the top. Dragunov got his hand on the bottom rope at the very last second to break up the win. Bailey didn’t fully connect with the double knee strike off the top it appeared. The fans fired up and Bailey wound up for a big kick, but Dragunov dropped it. They went back and forth exchanging chops and kicks. Bailey finally hit his signature kick sequence, but Dragunov hit a German and then a leaping headbutt for the win.

WINNER: Ilja Dragunov at 8:52

Star rating: (**1/2) – I didn’t enjoy this as much as the crowd did. There was just way too much no-selling. It was almost like it didn’t matter what either guy hit on each other. There were some nice sequences down the stretch, but some of Bailey’s offense was slightly off.

(5) Will Ospreay vs. Shane Strickland in a 16 Carat Gold First Round match. Both men countered each other going when they went for hurricanrana attempts. They ended the sequence with both men going for dropkicks. They then went to a dance contest and generic music played over whatever was playing over the house speakers. They eventually did the Kid & Play dance routine before Ospreay wiped out Strickland with a dropkick. This was fun, but wish they could have used the actual music. Both men were out of energy and Ospreay could barely hit a chop. Strickland couldn’t hit one either. Ospreay finally hit an eye poke. The action picked up and the fans fired up. Ospreay caught Strickland with a big dropkick off the ropes for a 1 count.

Ospreay went for move off the turnbuckles, but Strickland nailed him with a kick and he face planted into the mat. Ospreay eventually fired back with a handspring kick and the fans fired up huge. Ospreay nailed Strickland with an insane missile dropkick a short time later. Strickland went to the outside and Ospreay caught him with a step up SSP to the outside. Holy s—! Ospreay hit a standing SSP a short time later for a 2 count and the fans went nuts. Strickland blocked a DDT attempt and turned it into a brainbuster for a 2 count. Alan talked about how Strickland had scouted Ospreay and both men admired each other. Strickland went for a double stomp off the top, but Ospreay got out of the way. Ospreay got his hands up on an ace crusher attempt. Ospreay went for a SSP, but Strickland got out of the way and applied a crossface. Ospreay rolled through and Strickland eventually nailed him with a big back breaker for a 2 count. Wow!

Both men regrouped as the fans fired up. They battled on the turnbuckles a short time later. Strickland got up on the ropes and went for a reverse hurricanrana, but Ospreay landed on his feet! They went back and forth and Strickland hit a spinning enzuguri, but Ospreay reversed it into a hurricanrana. Ospreay hit several kicks and then a twisting roundhouse kick on Strickland, who was on his knees. He then made the cover and Strickland grabbed the ropes at the last second. Ospreay went up top, but Strickland rolled under the ropes. Wow!

The fans fired up with both men on the apron. Strickland popped up suddenly and hit a DVD on the apron. Strickland went up top and hit a huge double stomp on Ospreay, but he kicked out at the last second. Are you kidding me? The fans came unglued as Ospreay tried to get to his feet. Strickland nailed Ospreay with a huge running kick in the corner. He then got Ospreay on his shoulders, but Ospreay rolled him up for a 2 count. Ospreay went up top, but Strickland nailed him with a running kick to the side of the head.

Strickland went up top with Ospreay on his shoulders. Ospreay fought out of it. Ospreay rolled over Strickland and nailed him with a superkick through his legs that connected with his head. Wow! This is pure insanity. Ospreay then hit a Rainmaker into a C4 for a nearfall. Are you freaking kidding me?! Ospreay then went up top and hit a 630 for the win. Both men shook hands after the match.

WINNER: Will Ospreay at 14:28.

Star rating: (****3/4) – This was just an amazing match. It started with some fun comedy. These two then had an incredible back and forth contest with some crazy counter sequences. The finishing sequence with Ospreay hitting a rainmaker into the C4 was pure insanity. What a match! Seek this one out.

(6) Trevor Lee vs. Angelico in a 16 Carat Gold First Round match. Lee jumped Angelico during the introductions. Lee connected with a big kick from the apron to the floor on Angelico a short time later. Lee dominated the action during the early going and the fans fired up. Lee heeled a bit on the crowd when they chanted wXw at him. Angelico mounted a comeback and went on the attack. Lee fired back and hit his flipping power slam for a 2 count and the fans fired up. Angelico got Lee up in a crucifix, but Lee slipped out of it. Lee snapped the rope into Angelico’s face a short time later.

Angelico fired back with a big knee and went for a springboard to the outside, but Lee superkicked him from the ramp. Lee then got a running start and hit a double stomp over the top rope from the ramp for a 2 count. Wow! Angelico kept trying to lift Lee up. Angelico hit a big jumping knee strike and finally hit the crucifix into the corner for the win.

WINNER: Angelico at 7:38

Star rating: (**1/2) – This was very good while it lasted, but the finish didn’t come off so well, as they had to reset after a botch and go back to the finish again.

(7) Silas Young vs. Drew Galloway in a 16 Carat Gold First Round match. Young jumped Galloway before the opening bell. Didn’t that just happen in the previous match? Galloway and Young are both last minute replacements due to injuries. Galloway nailed Young with some huge chops and then a big suplex that sent Young to the floor during the early going. Galloway had two fans hold Young so he could chop him. Young fired back with a big chop of his own. They ended up brawling near the bar. Galloway took a drink and spit it into Young’s face. Galloway picked up Young and tossed him into the barricade. Young tried to fire back, but Galloway caught him with a tilt-a-whirl slam that sent him into the apron. Wow!

oung finally fired back and hit a slingshot double stomp to get the upper hand. Galloway mounted a comeback a short time later and nailed Young with a lariat off the top. The announcers mentioned that if Galloway advanced his quarterfinal match wouldn’t take place on Sunday, as he can’t make the second night of 16 Carat. Young fired back with his back breaker/clothesline combination for a 2 count. Young hit the handstand into a moonsault off the top, but Galloway kicked out at the very last second. Young went up top again, but Galloway popped up and nailed him with a chop.

They battled up top and Galloway got hung upside down, but he managed to pop up and hit a spider belly-to-belly and both men were down on the mat. Both men began exchanging blows on their knees. They got to their feet and continued to trade. Both men continued to trade until Galloway floated over Young and hit the future shock DDT for the win. Holy s—!

The fans chanted for Galloway after the match. He said he’s never been in WXW and couldn’t think of a better night to debut. He said he f—-ing loved it. Galloway said WXW is special and the fans applauded. The fans went nuts and chanted “WXW, WXW.” Galloway said nights like tonight make him think he’s dreaming. Galloway put over the Ospreay-Strickland match and said he hoped to wrestle Ospreay, which would be a dream of his. Galloway said he was going to the U.K. tomorrow and then come back and become the first person to win the quarterfinal, semi-finals, and finals of 16 Carat in one day! Awesome promo.

WINNER: Drew Galloway at 9:10.

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was an excellent hard-hitting back and forth match. The finish was really cool with Galloway flipping over Young and hitting the future shock DDT for the win.

(8) DTU Alto Impacto champion Kim Ray vs. Sami Callihan in a 16 Carat Gold First Round match. Callihan nailed Ray with a running kick right off the bat. The fight went to the floor and Callihan nailed Ray with a huge running chop. Ray fired back and dumped Callihan back-first over the ring apron. The fans really fired up behind Callihan with Ray in control. The announcers talked about how excited the fans were to see Callihan back in Germany. Callihan nailed Kim with a big dropkick against a metal structure on the outside. Both men then began crawling back towards the ring. They got into the ring and Callihan ducked a charge from Ray in the corner. He then nailed him with a huge running face wash.

The fans chanted for another one and Callihan seemed very excited. Ray tried to cut him off, but Callihan blocked a kick and hit a twisting neck breaker after placing Ray’s feet on the ropes for a 2 count. Both men went back and forth exchanging kicks. Ray finally hit a T-bone suplex, but Callihan got right up and nailed him with a kick. Callihan then caught Kim with a T-bone of his own. Callihan nailed Ray with a kick, but Ray fired right back with a spinning kick of his own for a 2 count.

They battled in the corner and Sami slid under Kim and kicked his legs out from under him. Callihan was going for a double underhook, but ended up hitting a pedigree. Both men were slow to get up after that spot. Both men went back and forth until Callihan hit a kick and applied the stretch muffler. Ray’s manager got up on the apron and Kim nearly got the win with a rollup from behind when Callihan went after him. Callihan named Ray with several slaps. Ray spit blood in Callihan’s face. Callihan eventually hit a huge running kick and a kick to the back of the head for a near fall. The fans fired up and chanted for Callihan. Callihan hit a diving elbow and it was good for the win.

WINNER: Sami Callihan at 9:09.

Star rating: (***1/2) – This was another really good match. Callihan is super over in Germany and the fans rallied behind him when he was down. Callihan made some great comebacks before putting Ray away in the end with a huge diving elbow.

A video package aired for the Scrull-Dieter match. Scurll was shown nailing Dieter with his umbrella while his arms were tied in the ropes. Scurll was then shown beating Dieter several times. Scrull was shown saying he sees something in Dieter. He said if Dieter could make him submit, he’d leave him alone. They showed Dieter beating him by submission. Scrull was shown telling Dieter that it doesn’t matter that he tapped out. All that matters is that he made Dieter snap and show some potential. Scurll was shown telling Deieter to embrace his inner darkness. This was a great video package.

(9) Marty Scurll vs. Alex Dieter Jr. in a 16 Carat Gold First Round I Quit match. Both men went face-to-face as the fans chanted back and forth for both men. The bell rang and they went at it hot and heavy. The announcers discussed how personal Scrull had made the feud. Scrull beat Dieter in this tournament last year. The announcers said the match wouldn’t end until one of these men quit. Scrull hit a big diving European uppercut during the early stages of the match. Scrull was on the outside posing with his umbrella, so Dieter nailed him with a dive through the ropes. Scurll got the upper hand and got on the mic and heeled on the fans before nailing Dieter with some chops. Scrull missed a chop and hit the ringpost.

They ended up brawling on the outside and Scurll tossed Dieter into the barricade several times. Scurll choked Dieter with a flag, but he wouldn’t quit. Marty got a chicken wing on Axel, but he flipped over him and applied the double arm modified full nelson that he tapped out Marty with previously. Marty struggled, but got free and clocked Dieter with his umbrella. Scurll got on the mic and told Dieter he had a lot of potential before slapping him and nailing him with the umbrella. He then followed up with a big powerbomb.

Scurll nailed Dieter with the umbrella once again and the fans chanted f—k you Marty. Scurll nailed Dieter with a huge superkick as he was on his knees, but Dieter wouldn’t quit. Scurll took out a pair of handcuffs, but Dieter mounted a comeback and he dropped them. Scrull got a grip on Dieter’s fingers a short time later and wrenched them apart. He then put the handcuffs on one of Dieter’s hands. He then cuffed Dieter to the ropes. Dieter broke out of the cuffs and charged at Scurll. He nailed him with a suplex and hit some punches from the mount.

The fans fired up as Dieter held up the umbrella, but Scurll nailed him with a kick to the stomach. He tied Dieter to the ropes. Scurll told Axel he had two choices. He told him to quit or he would “f—— kill him.” Scurll then went to town on Dieter with his umbrella, but he wouldn’t quit. Axel wouldn’t quit and told Scurll he’s no villain. Scurll told Axel to quit or he’d put him in the chicken wing and make him quit. Dieter told him he’d have to kill him to make him quit. Scurll unlocked the cuffs. The fans chanted at Scurll that he’s stupid. Dieter still had the cuff on and he tried to mount a comeback without using them to his advantage.

Scurll nailed him with a big kick on the apron and then locked his handcuffs once again. Scurll continued to taunt Dieter as he was tied up against the ropes. He refused to quit. Scurll took out another umbrella and nailed him several times with shots to the legs and stomach, but he wouldn’t quit. Scurll got a kendo stick and broke Dieter’s cuffs with it. He then woke up Dieter with some water. He wouldn’t quit, so Scurll nailed him with several shots to the head and shoulders. Scurll took him up to the entrance, but Dieter countered him with a backdrop.

Dieter got the umbrella and destroyed it by nailing Scrull with it over and over on the ramp. Scrull wouldn’t quit. They got back in the ring a short time later and Scurll obliterated him with an umbrella shot to the head, but he wouldn’t quit. Scurll got the chicken wing a short time later and the fans fired up behind Dieter. Axel wouldn’t quit when the ref checked on him. Scurll then put Dieter’s double arm submission on him, but he wouldn’t quit and the fans went nuts. The fans chanted “You can’t beat him” at Scurll.

Dieter continued to take a beating with the kendo stick, but he flicked off Scurll. Scurll nailed him with a huge shot with the kendo stick and he appeared to be out. Dieter suddenly popped up while Scurll was posing and applied his double arm submission. Dieter then nailed Scurll with the kendo stick several times. He wrapped the kendo stick around Scurll while maintain the hold and Scurll quit. Holy s—!

WINNER: Axel Dieter Jr. at 23: 08.

Star rating: (****1/2) – Amazing match. Scurll did everything he could to get Dieter to quit and he simply would not give up. The crowd got more and more into the match as Dieter showed incredible toughness leading into the finish. This was amazing!

Overall thoughts (9.0) – Amazing show. Simply amazing. There were some lulls, but not many. Strickland-Ospreay and Scurll-Dieter are as good as it gets in the ring. The rest of the card was very good for the most part with many matches in the mid-three star range. I wasn’t a fan of the generic music used for the entrances, but that’s just a very minor complaint, as the atmosphere was insane and I would have loved to listen to the crowd react to each wrestler coming out. The commentary was really good. I especially enjoyed the enthusiasm of Alan Counihan.

There are two reasons to buy this show. The first reason is the first round match between Will Ospreay and Shane Strickland. They started out with a fun dance battle during the early going and then went full bore and delivered one of the craziest and innovative matches I’ve seen in quite some time. Trust me, it’s worth going out of your way to see this match. The finishing sequence alone is worth the price of admission here.

The main event I quit match between Scurll and Dieter was brutal, but satisfying. Even if you haven’t seen the feud unfold between these two men, the video package and the commentary did a great job of setting the stage for this incredible main event. These two went to war with Scrull using every dirty trick in the book to inflict punishment on Dieter, who wouldn’t quit. The finish was great and ended the show on a high note.

Overall, this was an incredible show. The copyright issues with the music was a downer, but there’s nothing that can be done about that. This crowd was jacked and provided an electric atmosphere for one of the better shows I’ve seen in 2016. This show is highly recommended.

– You can purchase WXW “2016 16 Carat Gold: Night 1 (English)” on VOD by clicking HERE to visit Vimeo.com. The purchase of this VOD on Vimeo allows you to watch or download the show in HD as many times as you want for $9.99. For more information on WXW visit WXW-wrestling.com.

***

Email Sean at PWTorchSean@Gmail.com

Please click HERE and click “like” to join the Radican’s Wrestling Community Facebook fan page.

Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanRadican